FIA Girls on Track: Taking Women Engineers to the Heart of Motorsport

FIA and CBA launch a project to promote female inclusion in Brazilian motorsport, reaching even Formula 1

Female participation in motorsport has grown in recent years, both in the stands and behind the scenes. Currently, over 40% of Formula 1 fans are women, whether attending races or watching from home. Additionally, a study by the More Than Equal organization reveals that female motorsport fans are up to 70% more likely to engage on social media and create content about the sport.

For one engineer, her passion for motorsport began in college, when friends encouraged her to watch the sport. Since then, her enthusiasm has only grown, spanning all categories of racing. Now, through her role in the Girls On Track project, she is excited to bring more women into the sport.

“This is really amazing. First, it’s a project I strongly believe in. There are so few women in this field, and this program by the CFA focuses on showing teams that we need women here,” she remarked.

Marina Cândido's journey

Marina Cândido, a journalism student, is already working in motorsport communication. She began creating online content in October of last year and has since had opportunities to collaborate with Stock Car teams.

Although she creates digital content, Marina says her experience with backlash for being a woman discussing motorsport has been relatively mild. “I see what Carol [Politta] goes through; I wouldn’t know how to handle it. But it’s encouraging to see there’s a movement and a need to bring women into the sport,” she reflected.

The Next FIA Project

With the rising presence of women in the sport, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) and the Brazilian Automobile Confederation (CBA) have introduced the FIA Girls on Track project to Brazil. This initiative brings young women to experience the inner workings of motorsport and provides professionals with job opportunities in categories like Stock Car, Formula 1, Formula E, and more.

For the Goiânia round, the project selected 10 engineers and mechanics to work with Stock Car teams. Mariana Di Sessa was among them. A mechanical engineer with Stellantis, this was her first professional experience in motorsport.

Her love for the sport started in childhood, influenced by her father, who worked on the Formula Indy production team. “I used to go with him to the Indy races when I was 7 or 8 years old. That’s when I decided I wanted to pursue engineering. Ironically, I didn’t have my dad’s support... He didn’t talk to me for two months,” she revealed.

Despite this, Di Sessa pursued her dream and has been working in the automotive field for seven years. Through the FIA Girls on Track program, she joined the Pole Motorsport team. With driver Átila Abreu clinching a win, the team secured a victory in one of the weekend’s races.

“It’s a dream come true. I don’t even know how to describe it. It’s been so incredible—it feels unreal. Is this really happening?” she celebrated.

A long pathway for women's inclusion on brazilian motorsport

To further increase female participation in motorsport, the Brazilian Automobile Confederation established the Women’s Commission for Motorsport, led by Bia Figueiredo, the first woman to win races in Firestone Indy Lights and Formula Renault.

Alongside Bia, the CFA features Rachel Loh, the team manager of ASG Mercedes-Benz in Copa Truck, where Bia is a driver. Together, these two trailblazers reached the top of the podium. In July, Bia won a race in Cascavel, Paraná, marking a historic moment for the category. She became the first woman to win a Copa Truck race, while Rachel became the first female team manager to win the best team trophy.

Marina Di Sessa at Brazilian Stock Car in Goiania

The Role of Carol Politta

Mechanical engineer Carol Politta volunteers with the project. With over 38,000 followers on X (formerly Twitter), she shares technical aspects of motorsport in an accessible way. Despite her popularity and community support, she still faces sexist remarks.

“There are always two sides: people who appreciate the simplified explanations I provide, and those who assume I lack understanding because I make it accessible. I try to ignore the negativity and focus on the positive feedback,” Politta shared.

Like others, her passion for motorsport was sparked in college, leading her to explore all racing categories. Today, as part of the Girls On Track project, she is eager to inspire more women to join the field.

“This is really amazing. It’s a project I strongly believe in. There are so few women in this field, and this program by the CFA focuses on showing teams that we need women here,” she emphasized.

The next edition of FIA Girls On Track will take place during the Brazilian round of Formula 1 at Interlagos on November.